Mass Layoffs at ArcelorMittal: Worker Outrage and Alarming Signal for French Steel Industry

The announcement has hit like an industrial earthquake. Steel giant ArcelorMittal plans to cut 636 jobs across its French sites, mainly in the Hauts-de-France and Grand Est regions. In cities like Dunkirk, Mardyck, Florange, and Montataire, shock has quickly turned into anger.

Management cites a reorganization of its support functions—partially outsourced to India—alongside a broader production restructuring across eight key sites. But unions see it as a direct attack on the fabric of France’s industrial backbone.

Unions Condemn an “Industrial Disaster”

The CFDT union has denounced a “betrayal” and is calling for a two-hour strike on Thursday, April 24, to protest “decisions driven solely by financial logic at the expense of workers.” “The masks are off,” says the union, warning of a slow, systematic relocation of activity. Similar concerns have been raised by the CGT and CFE-CGC, who fear a drawn-out collapse of the steel sector.

“This is a social and industrial tsunami. If Arcelor falls, an entire region falls with it,” warns Gaëtan Lecocq, a union representative in Dunkirk. He also raised alarm over safety risks: “Crucial roles are being cut. This is playing with fire.”

A Blow Amid a Structural Steel Crisis

The announcement comes amid a deep crisis in European steelmaking, struggling against a flood of cheap Chinese imports. In late March, the European Commission unveiled an action plan aimed at boosting competitiveness and decarbonization. But for many, it’s still all talk and no action.

Investment Promises Under Scrutiny

ArcelorMittal insists the job cuts will not compromise its major decarbonization plans, particularly at its Dunkirk plant. The French government, meanwhile, has pledged €850 million in public funding, conditional on the company following through with its broader €1.8 billion investment. “We expect clear guarantees for site sustainability and respect for the workers,” said Industry Minister Marc Ferracci.

Political Pressure for Long-Term Commitment

Political reactions have poured in. Xavier Bertrand (Les Républicains), president of the Hauts-de-France region, demands strong commitments on job protection and local investment. Fabien Roussel (French Communist Party) went further: “Either ArcelorMittal commits to transforming its French operations, or nationalization must be considered.”

In Florange, a city long symbolic of broken industrial promises, Mayor Rémy Dick called the restructuring “a major red flag”: “This decision shows just how far we’ve failed in reindustrializing effectively. French steel is now paying the price of a strategy with no vision.”